I was in Beijing mid January for pleasure. It was my first trip to Asia. You know I found that for all that China seems to disagree with the US in UN and trade matters, it is a country that desires to be like and have all the prosperity and material comforts of the US. There almost seems to be a little jealousy there, which in turn can cause resentment. I guess what can happen on a micro scale can also happen on the macro scale.
China has along ways to go, but it is transpiring daily.
I was told young women purchase makeup to lighten their faces like caucasions. Some go to the extreme to have surgery to change their eyes to be more like caucasions. This really surprised me. Apparently they consider caucasions to be more beautiful. I think every culture has their share of beautiful people. I told our tour guide, a 24 yr female, that we caucasions lay in the sun to tan our skin to be darker. lol I also told her that Chinese people in Canada and US never try to lighten their faces with makeup...or surgery to change their eyes.
There are no old vehicles on the roads. They are all new, as people are experiencing more individual economic prosperity. At least within the cities.
China will be hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. I had read about all the changes occurring, that if one did not see China prior to the end of 2005, they would not know what 'old' China was about.
I think I still saw a bit of the 'old' China, but new highway construction, and new office buildings (I saw at least 15) are being built rapidly. I don't know who will fill those office buildings, but I'm sure with China's advancement in World trade the before or during the Olympics they will have found viable businesses to occupy them.
I learned alot about China while listening to the Asia CNN news. Their people live under very strict laws, and do not have the liberties we have as Canadians and Americans. Maybe it is due to their being unaware of their lack of liberties, I don't know, but they are very very proud of their Country, as Americans and Canadians are proud of our Countries.
Considering we are countries that seemingly want the same things, only some countries are a little more advanced in these areas...it is too bad that we can not all come together, work together, and get along for world wide peace.
We have alot to learn about each others cultures. When we understand, we are able to get along better.

I was in Beijing mid January for pleasure. It was my first trip to Asia. You know I found that for all that China seems to disagree with the US in UN and trade matters, it is a country that desires to be like and have all the prosperity and material comforts of the US. There almost seems to be a little jealousy there, which in turn can cause resentment. I guess what can happen on a micro scale can also happen on the macro scale. China has along ways to go, but it is transpiring daily. I was told young women purchase makeup to lighten their faces like caucasions. Some go to the extreme to have surgery to change their eyes to be more like caucasions. This really surprised me. Apparently they consider caucasions to be more beautiful. I think every culture has their share of beautiful people. I told our tour guide, a 24 yr female, that we caucasions lay in the sun to tan our skin to be darker. lol I also told her that Chinese people in Canada and US never try to lighten their faces with makeup...or surgery to change their eyes. There are no old vehicles on the roads. They are all new, as people are experiencing more individual economic prosperity. At least within the cities. China will be hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. I had read about all the changes occurring, that if one did not see China prior to the end of 2005, they would not know what 'old' China was about. I think I still saw a bit of the 'old' China, but new highway construction, and new office buildings (I saw at least 15) are being built rapidly. I don't know who will fill those office buildings, but I'm sure with China's advancement in World trade the before or during the Olympics they will have found viable businesses to occupy them. I learned alot about China while listening to the Asia CNN news. Their people live under very strict laws, and do not have the liberties we have as Canadians and Americans. Maybe it is due to their being unaware of their lack of liberties, I don't know, but they are very very proud of their Country, as Americans and Canadians are proud of our Countries. Considering we are countries that seemingly want the same things, only some countries are a little more advanced in these areas...it is too bad that we can not all come together, work together, and get along for world wide peace. We have alot to learn about each others cultures. When we understand, we are able to get along better.

Sharp this is a short part of something I wrote and of course the Chinese have now ascended to the WTO. We should never underestimate the power of the Chinese - they are emerging at great speed and I actually believe it will ALL be showcased at the Olympics.
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In the past 25 years, China has slowly entered into dialogue with the West even though China remains extremely private and closed off. This would seem to be a contradiction as China has embraced International Institutions such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank using them all to China?s advantage. What is the reason for such success?
This is not difficult to understand. We only have to look at the size of its population, add it to the idea of consumerism for which the West is a master. It is then easier to see why the West tiptoes around China. The potential for commerce and industry within China is phenomenal. Even if you equate a simple sum, 1Kg. of sugar for almost 1.5 billion people and you have your answer ? MONEY.
China most definitely has the capacity in the long term to be a Superpower. I would go further and say that the rest of the world acts passively towards China. The only organisation that has an impact on Chinas attitude for change is the WTO to which China, after 14 years waiting to ascend. China acts almost with humility when dealing with the WTO. China has much to gain by its membership and so too does the trading partners within the WTO.
China itself will NOT be pushed around but China has also used the skills of Hong Kong; a place already skilled in the art of Public Relations to help its image.

Sharp this is a short part of something I wrote and of course the Chinese have now ascended to the WTO. We should never underestimate the power of the Chinese - they are emerging at great speed and I actually believe it will ALL be showcased at the Olympics. ----------- In the past 25 years, China has slowly entered into dialogue with the West even though China remains extremely private and closed off. This would seem to be a contradiction as China has embraced International Institutions such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank using them all to China?s advantage. What is the reason for such success? This is not difficult to understand. We only have to look at the size of its population, add it to the idea of consumerism for which the West is a master. It is then easier to see why the West tiptoes around China. The potential for commerce and industry within China is phenomenal. Even if you equate a simple sum, 1Kg. of sugar for almost 1.5 billion people and you have your answer ? MONEY. China most definitely has the capacity in the long term to be a Superpower. I would go further and say that the rest of the world acts passively towards China. The only organisation that has an impact on Chinas attitude for change is the WTO to which China, after 14 years waiting to ascend. China acts almost with humility when dealing with the WTO. China has much to gain by its membership and so too does the trading partners within the WTO. China itself will NOT be pushed around but China has also used the skills of Hong Kong; a place already skilled in the art of Public Relations to help its image.